German · A1 · Everyday language
Who, what, where? in German
Learn simple German questions for everyday conversations with children: who, what, where, when, why and how.
What you'll learn
- Ask eight useful everyday questions.
- Choose the right German question word.
- Put the verb directly after the question word or question phrase.
- Use du when speaking to one child.
German phrases for who, what, where?
Wer ist das?
Who is that?
Wer asks about a person. Das can mean “this” or “that” when identifying someone.
Was ist das?
What is this?
This is a natural question when pointing at something. German commonly uses das for both “this” and “that” here.
Wo ist die Katze?
Where is the cat?
Wo asks where someone or something is.
Wann gehen wir los?
When are we going?
Use this when asking when you will leave or set off.
Warum weinst du?
Why are you crying?
Du is the informal “you” used with one child.
Wie funktioniert das?
How does it work?
A natural question about how a toy or other object works.
Welches möchtest du haben?
Which one do you want?
Literally, “Which one would you like to have?” Welches is used for a neuter item. Use welcher for a masculine item and welche for a feminine item or plural items.
Wie viele gibt es?
How many are there?
Wie viele asks about a number of people or things. Es gibt means “there is” or “there are.”
Hear these phrases and practise them
Tildi plays every phrase out loud, tests you in five-minute lessons and builds them into bedtime stories from your own picture books.
Try it free for 7 daysKey words
die Katze; plural: die Katzen
cat
Katze is grammatically feminine, so use die.
das
this; that
Used on its own in Was ist das? to refer to something you are identifying.
losgehen
to leave; to set off
A separable verb: in Wann gehen wir los?, los moves to the end.
weinen
to cry
With du, use weinst: du weinst.
funktionieren
to work; to function
Use this for how a toy, machine or process works.
möchtest
would like
Use du möchtest when asking one child what they would like.
Choosing a question word
Put the question word at the beginning to show what you want to find out.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Who: a person | wer | Wer ist das? |
| What: a thing | was | Was ist das? |
| Where: a location | wo | Wo ist die Katze? |
| When: a time | wann | Wann gehen wir los? |
| Why: a reason | warum | Warum weinst du? |
| How: a way or method | wie | Wie funktioniert das? |
| Which one: a choice | welcher / welche / welches | Welches möchtest du haben? |
| How many: a number | wie viele | Wie viele gibt es? |
Question word order
The verb that changes with the subject comes directly after the question word or phrase. German does not add “do” or “does” to form these questions.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Question word + verb + subject | Wo + ist + die Katze? | Wo ist die Katze? |
| A two-word question phrase | Wie viele + gibt + es? | Wie viele gibt es? |
| An extra verb goes at the end | Welches + möchtest + du + haben? | Welches möchtest du haben? |
Talking about what is happening now
German uses the simple present for actions happening now. There is no separate “am/is/are ...-ing” form.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| You are crying | du weinst | Warum weinst du? |
| We are setting off | wir gehen los | Wann gehen wir los? |
More examples
Wo ist die Katze? – Da!
Where is the cat? – There!
A child can point and give this short answer.
Wann gehen wir los? – Jetzt!
When are we going? – Now!
Jetzt means “now.”
Wie viele gibt es? – Drei.
How many are there? – Three.
Practise by counting objects together.